Guerilla tactics
If you thought budget rods meant a lack of quality and performance, think again…
A budget rod that really is something special.
You can get countless goodquality beach fishing rods for relatively little money, but, in the past, finding them for boat fishing was trickier. In recent years, a succession of quality, budget boat rods have entered the market, meaning boat anglers no longer need to pay a premium for quality.
The latest rods to break into this low cost category are two versions of the Tronxipro Guerilla. Well known in beach angling circles for producing quality across each price point from budget to elite, how would Tronixpro’s foray into this sector of the boat market fare?
When it comes to looks, the Guerilla is a lovely looking piece of kit. It’s not over the top, and it doesn’t completely break the mould, but the subtle, finer details all add up.
FUNCTIONAL
The 8ft, carbon-constructed blank is in a twopiece, equal-section configuration. While I prefer a long tip and short butt combination, a two-piece with sections of equal length makes sense for this type of rod.
It’s the ideal transportable size and, in this price range, the change in blank action that two equal sections can create is not so much of a drama. Being lightweight, it is perfectly balanced by adding a 12-15lb category reel, such as the Tronixpro Wave, Penn Fathom 12/15 or the Daiwa Saltist equivalent.
The Guerilla is finished with silver rings that complement the jet-black blank. Its rings are whipped in black thread and, as an added touch, they are under-whipped with metallic green thread with silver detail. Between the tip ring and second intermediate, the blank is coloured green, a signature of Tronixpro in use across other models, notably the Cobra series. While it looks good, this green tip is also practical, standing out against the murky background of a British winter.
Fittings-wise, everything is standard, which is what you would expect from a budget rod. A long, EVA foam grip graces the butt’s lower section from the rubberised butt cap to the reel seat. This is ideal for placing in rod holders, being durable and providing a solid fit.
You get a functional, generic reel seat, above which is a well-sized and rounded EVA foregrip. If there is one criticism, it’s that the reel seat screws down, rather than up. If, like me, you hold the rod with your hand close to the reel for balance, then you’ll find this a little uncomfortable; this is a mistake made by many manufacturers.
The rings are lined and are ideal for both
braid and mono. My biggest bugbear with rods is when there is no varnish applied around the back of the ring feet. This allows saltwater to get under the ring, causing corrosion; it’s lazy manufacturing. None of that here though, my test model was properly whipped, varnished and finished to a high standard.
For a sub-£40 boat rod, it’s very well built and finished, better than some more expensive models.
REFINEMENT
On the water it performs well. I tried it out in January while fishing in the River Mersey with skipper Simon Parry, who operates Suveran II, out of Liverpool. The day began at 5am and it wouldn’t turn fully light until almost 8.30am; this is where the lime-green tip came into its own because it stood out like a beacon against the dark background, making bites easy to see.
It wasn’t long before the first codling was caught, not a huge fish, at around 2lb. Bringing the fish in from a considerable distance against a strong tide demonstrated that the blank has plenty of power. Classed at 20lb, the rod isn’t overly gunned, and it has the refinement that means you still get plenty of feedback through the blank. I’d say it was a middle-of-the-road 20lb-class, not too light and not so heavy it’s almost like a 30; it’s just about right. The rod is perfect for any kind of general boat sport, fishing around rough ground and light wreck fishing.
In no way, shape or form is it an uptider, but at 8ft, and with a versatile blank, you can, if need be, cast away from the boat without too many problems. It’s never going to match an uptider, but, it can certainly do a job.
For £40 you get a lot of rod without having to part with a vast amount of cash. It’s lightweight, well finished and looks the part.
This rod has a good action and is at a sensible length for general boat angling. There is a 12lb-class version too, which is more suited to drifting and general light boat fishing. n